Minutes of public meeting of St Augustine's Community ...



Minutes of public meeting of St Augustine's Community Together Residents' Association (ACT), held on Thursday 6 July 2006 at St Augustine’s Memorial Hall,

St Augustine’s Street, Norwich.

1. Nicholas Vesey took the chair and welcomed everyone. The Attendance Register was circulated and 42 people were in attendance, including Executive Committee members Sally Reynolds (ACT Chairperson), the Revd Nicholas Vesey (Vice-Chair), Donna Williams (Vice-Chair), Cheryl Norwell (Social Events Officer) and Stuart McLaren (Secretary and Treasurer). Traders’ Representative, Paul Scruton, was not present and sent his apologies after the meeting.

Guests: Inspector Steve Davies of Norfolk Constabulary, City Councillor Howard Jago (Green), City Councillor Diana Lowe (Liberal Democrat), County Councillor Maran McKay (Labour), and two of Norwich’s new Neighbourhood Wardens, Mr Robert Dowe and Mr S. Dunthorne.

Apologies were received from Paul Rao, Manager of Norwich City Council’s Projects and Planning Department, who was unable to attend due to illness. Russell Heath of Broadland Housing Association (BHA) sent his apologies after the meeting.

2. The minutes of the last meeting (held 20 April 2006) were read and approved. As our two principal guest speakers (Paul Rao and Russell Heath) were absent, the printed agenda had to be partially abandoned.

3. Matters arising from the minutes

A. The blocked drain in Botolph Street had finally been dug up by City Works and it was reported there had been no flooding following recent rain. Cllr Lowe said work would be completed shortly.

B. The problem of traffic making illegal right-hand turns out of Botolph Street in St Augustine’s Street was again addressed. Cllr Lowe said she had spoken to Colin Page, who was responsible for the City’s Traffic Wardens. He had sent wardens to monitor the problem but they had not observed anyone doing this. It was pointed out that motorist are unlikely to offend if they see a warden or policemen in uniform. Cllr Lowe agreed but said the Traffic Wardens probably were not permitted to work undercover. Both Cllr Lowe and Cllr McKay mentioned new legislation coming in in September which would give the local authority more power to prosecute moving traffic offences. We would return to this issue at our next public meeting.

C. The issue of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) using St Augustine’s Street was raised by Kenny Read, landlord of The Catherine Wheel, and by Cherrie and Andre Cappuccio of Trend Hair Salon. It was queried whether there were any weight restrictions on this road. Inspector Davies said there was only a weight restriction if the vehicle was passing through the city without stopping to pick up or deliver. He also pointed out that there was a 14-day limitation on prosecutions so any alleged traffic offence had to be reported within that period. Cherrie and Andre had logged 50 HGVs branded with the Smufit’s logo using St Augustine’s Street between 22 June and 6 July between 9 am and 6 pm. They said they were willing to provide evidence to the police about this if called upon. Inspector Davies said he would speak to them after the meeting. Cherrie said that she had spoken to the manager responsible for the Smurfit lorries, Mr Steven Howles, who was based at the Jarrold Printing Works in Whitefriars. He had said that their lorries were not told not to use St Augustine’s Street. However, it was clear that they were. Cllr McKay pointed out that HGV drivers often use SatNav, which directs them down routes not officially approved by their employers.

D. Carol Cooper of Sussex Street and Cllr Lowe reported back on their meeting with the Joint Highways Committee to ask a question about the plans for the Air Quality Action Committee. They understood from the replies they received that work on improving the traffic congestion, including installing a pedestrian crossing at St Augustine’s Gates, might not now begin until 2010. Cllr Lowe reported that she had spoken forcibly to the Highways meeting about this unacceptable delay. Cllr McKay expressed her dismay that money allocated to begin works this year might not now be used this year. It was agreed that ACT would follow this up and clarify the position.

E. The installation of security gate to control access to the rear of the Gildencroft cottages was to go ahead. All the residents there had now agreed to its installation. The date of installation was not yet known.

F. Gildencroft park was to have new entrance in Pitt Street. Mr Willsea of Chatham Street objected to this, fearing for the safety of children exiting here beside a busy main road. The ACT executive committee said it would ask the responsible Norwich City Council department to get in touch with him and listen to his concerns.

G. Credit Union. On 17 July there would be a meeting at the Charring Cross Centre chaired by Ian Leather on the setting up of Credit Unions. It was proposed that one be set up in our area, possibly in an empty shop (Fran’s Pantry in St Augustine’s Street) next door to the Red Cross Centre in St Augustine’s Street. This might also be used as a community shop. ACT agreed to send delegates to the meeting on 17th (Sally and Donna) and to invite Ian Leather to our next public meeting.

3. Law & Order. The general feeling among residents present at the meeting was that the law and order situation in the area was better than this time last year.

A. Two of the Council’s new community wardens attended the meeting and outlined what they do. They deal with low-level anti-social behaviour. There is a anti-social behaviour hotline open from noon to 10 pm (Tel.: 01603 212100 or e-mail asb@.uk). They admitted there had been teething problems with this hotline service, a difficulty in getting through, which was being addressed. Carol Cooper of Sussex Street reported that there had been a problem with children climbing over her wall and jumping on top of her shed, which was fragile and could give way. Donna and Sally said they would make discreet enquiries to try to find out which children were doing this and ask their parents to try to stop them and warn them of the danger.

B. Inspector Davies spoke. He said he was impressed at how much better things were in the area since he had first attended ACT meetings three years ago. He said that the police can not do every thing that people want all at once, some things take time to achieve results. There had been an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour and crime during January and February and he put this down to the displacement of drug dealing activities following the closure of a ‘crack den’ in Thogmorton Yard off Magdalen Street. The BT call box in the Gildencroft alley, which it is thought has been used for drug-dealing activities, had been made call-out only again and this seems to reduced the number of reports of anti-social activity. Cllr Lowe said she would continue to campaign for the box to be moved to a more open location. From 1 January to 5 July (yesterday), a period of 27 weeks, there had only been 51 CADs (reports of crime etc.) for this area, which was a low number compared to two years ago, reflecting a much better atmosphere of law and order and reduction in fear of crime in the area. Mr Willsea of Chatham Street said that he was having problems with noise from the Talk night club (in Oak Street). Two benches had been removed from the churchyard as these had been the focus for anti-social drinking, drug taking and abusive behaviour.

4. The Children’s Carnival. The Rev’d Nicholas Vesey outlined what was being planned for 13 August fete day. This year it will be themed as a children’s carnival, which we hoed to continue in subsequent years. There would be carnival workshops in July where children could make masks. There would be carnival snap dragon (being made by Paul Scruton) and a Greek dancing exhibition, as well as BBQ, cream teas, raffle, tombola and a children’s magic show from a Norwich-based entertainer, Magical Edd. A free exhibition on the history of St Augustine’s parish organised by Stuart McLaren would be mounted in the old church.

5. Wensum Valley Youth Project. The Rev’d Nicholas Vesey outlined ideas to create a community youth project. There were funds available in the form of grants to suitable projects. He was inviting the children of the area to the church hall on 23 August to let us know what they want. The aim is to raise £100,000 for a three-year period to fund a youth worker, premises and activities and equipment etc. The Wensum Valley Youth Project to cover area from Oak Street to Baker Road and from Magpie Road to Edward Street area.

6. Any Other Business:

A. The successful spring bulb planting day of last November was to happen again this year. Mr Lester Fish of Coleman Opticians offered to sponsor the cost of the bulbs this year.

B. Recycling: it was noted that the recycling bins, especially the one for paper and cardboard, needed emptying more frequently as it was often over full: a victim of its own success!

C. The green space behind St Augustine’s Street near Barnes Court and Leonard Road had recently been “gardened” rather over-enthusiastically by City Works. There had been reports of drug abuse here and one resident reported having personally picked up needled here. Cllr Lowe stressed that no one should risk picking up “sharps” themselves but should phone the Council’s environmental heath dept, who will always send someone out to cleanse an area safely.

D. Mr Michael of Gildencroft cottages reported having seen children climbing on the church roof. The Act committee said it would contact the Churches Conservation Trust about this matter.

E. Fran of the Lathes said that the children here needed somewhere safe to lock their bikes, as there had been thefts and vandalism. It was suggested that ACT lobby Broadland Housing for this. BHA were coming to Lathes area to meet residents on 20 July.

F. Community Notice board. Cllr Jago said he would talk to Anglia Square Management to see if a community notice board could be put up there.

G. The Parent & Toddler Club will hold its end of term event on 17 July.

7. Date of the next public meeting: Thursday 5 October 2006 starting at 7.30 pm in St Augustine’s Church Hall.

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